Proposed bylaws changes to delete “initiation fees” from Article 11, Sections 1 and 2, and “Initiation Fee $50.00” from Schedule A, Monthly dues

ARTICLE 11 – FINANCES

Section 1.  Initiation fees and monthly dues. The initiation fees and monthly dues which are in effect (as outlined in the attached Schedule “A”) shall remain in effect and shall not be further increased except by appropriate action of the membership and/or the International Union. Dues are payable on the first day of each month.

Section 2. Per Event Dues

Individuals employed in event-driven venues may pay a “per event” or weekly sum of a fixed dollar amount, as set forth in Schedule B to these Bylaws. Such amounts, which shall be referred to as “per event dues”, shall be the full amount of dues required for membership, provided that the individual works at least one event in the month. In months when the individual does not work at all, dues shall be the same amount that members employed in New York City cafeterias pay for one month. If  Local 100 organizes a new event-driven venue, per event dues shall be established for that venue and added to Schedule B.

Individuals eligible to pay per event dues shall pay either monthly dues in the same amount that members employed in New York City cafeterias pay for one month or per event dues, as  the individual chooses, provided that the choice must be made in writing and is binding and may not be changed except in writing in the period 10 days before each anniversary date of the original choice. Unless an individual eligible to pay per event dues makes a choice in writing to pay regular dues, the individual shall pay per event dues.

Individuals eligible to pay per event dues shall also be charged the same initiation fee as all other members.

Section 3.  Any member being two calendar months in arrears for the payment of any dues or fines shall be considered automatically suspended. The provisions of Article 10 of these bylaws shall not apply to such suspension.

Section 4.  Reinstatement to membership in this Local Union shall be made in accordance with the procedure set forth in the International Constitution.

Section 5.  It shall be mandatory for members of this Local to deposit their traveling card with the Local Union having jurisdiction before accepting employment. Any member violating the foregoing provision is subject to the provisions of Article 14, Section 5 of the International Constitution.

“Passed at the November 21, 2023 Executive Board meeting and read aloud at the January 23, 2024 Membership meetings. To be read again and voted on at the April 30, 2024 Membership meetings.”

UNITE HERE Local 100 approves bylaws changes

To all Local 100 members working in shops that pay dues “per event;”

This is a Summary of the bylaws change approved at July Membership meeting. The actual language is below.

This change affects members working in the 10 shops that pay dues “per event. Aramark Citifield, Legends Yankee Stadium, Delaware North MetLife Stadium, Delaware North UBS Arena, Delaware North Nassau Coliseum, Levy Prudential Center, Levy Barclay Center, Levy Javits Center, Madison Square Garden, NYY Steak Yankee Stadium. All other members are not affected by this change.

*The first paragraph adds the requirement that members paying “per event” dues pay dues for months in which they do not work any events in order to remain in good standing. The amount to be paid is the same amount paid by members employed in New York City cafeterias, currently $46.00 per month.

Members in per event shops who do not pay the regular dues of $46 per month in months when they do not work will fall behind in their dues. If a member does not pay dues for 2 months, they will be suspended or in some cases, given withdrawal status, but in either case the member will lose continuous “good standing.” A member who is not in good standing cannot attend Union meetings or vote in Union elections. Twenty-four months of continuous good standing is required to run for Union office.

*The second paragraph gives members working in the “per event” shops the choice to pay those monthly dues or to continue paying dues “per event” at the same rate they currently pay. Members choosing to pay the regular monthly dues must do so in writing, and their choice can be switched after one year. The Event Dues Selection Form (In the packet).

*The final sentence adds that all new members starting to pay “per event dues” will be charged the same initiation fee of $50 that new members pay in the other shops.

This by laws change was voted on by secret ballot at the regular Membership meetings on July 25, 2023. The UNITE HERE Executive Committee gave final approval by letter on September 11, 2023.

The reason for these changes is to provide a fair system where members from all different workplaces share the same responsibility to pay dues and initiation fees in order to remain in good standing in Local 100 and be eligible to vote in Union elections and run for office.

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Change to Per-Event dues

Delete Section 1 (a.) Per Event Dues of Article 11 – Finances, and replace with Section 2, Per Event Dues.  

Section 2. Per Event Dues

Individuals employed in event-driven venues may pay a “per event” or weekly sum of a fixed dollar amount, as set forth in Schedule B to these Bylaws. Such amounts, which shall be referred to as “per event dues”, shall be the full amount, of dues required for membership, provided that the individual works at least one event in the month.  In months when the individual does not work at all, dues shall be the same amount that members employed in New York City cafeterias pay for one month. If Local 100 organizes a new event-driven venue, per event dues shall be established for that venue and added to Schedule B.

Individuals eligible to pay per event dues shall pay either monthly dues in the same amount that members employed in New York City cafeterias pay for one month or per event dues as the individual chooses, provided that the choice must be made in writing and is binding and may not be changed except in writing in the period 10 days before each anniversary date of the original choice. Unless an individual eligible to pay per event dues makes a choice in writing to pay monthly dues, the individual shall pay per event dues.

Individual eligible to pay per event dues shall also be charged the same initiation fee as all other members.

Download the Event Dues Selection Form.

Levy workers at Barclays secure tentative agreement for new union contract with $25 minimum wage

If ratified, new contract will give more Levy workers at Barclays health insurance

Brooklyn, NY – Food and beverage workers at Barclays Center have a new tentative agreement with their employer, Levy, averting a planned strike authorization vote. If ratified by membership vote, Levy workers will receive raises between $5-$11.20 an hour. By the end of the contract, the lowest paid worker will earn a wage of $25 an hour.

More Levy workers at Barclays will qualify for health insurance. In addition, concessions workers will now be able to receive tips. Workers also won additional employer-contributions to their pension, a new 401k with an employer match, and the ability to work at other Levy-operated properties. The contract will be in effect until 2027.

Watch and download a video announcement of tentative agreement details here.

“I’m so happy about this tentative agreement. It will raise the standards for us in all classifications at Barclays. I’ll actually have health insurance through the job I’ve worked since day one!” said Lashawn Saunders, a Levy concessions stand lead at Barclays Center.

“Levy saw that our members were serious about what they were fighting for. We got the things we needed at the bargaining table: real raises, a way for more of our members to get health insurance from Levy, and a lot more. Once again, this contract builds on the high standard Local 100 has set for stadium workers in New York and New Jersey,” said UNITE HERE Local 100 President José Maldonado.

Levy workers at Barclays Center are members of UNITE HERE Local 100, New York City’s largest food workers union. UNITE HERE Local 100 also represents food and beverage workers at Madison Square Garden, among other New York and New Jersey stadiums and arenas.

A joint statement from UNITE HERE Local 100 and Levy:

“UNITE HERE Local 100 and Levy have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for Barclays Center team members that will deliver wage increases, expanded access to health insurance, and investment in training facilities and programs. We are all proud to reach a deal that shows team members how much they are valued. Union membership will vote to ratify the agreement in the coming days.”

The Chief: Union workers rally in support of Fed cafeteria workers

To a Brother, a Mentor and a Legend and by far the toughest Labor Leader I’ve ever met

—From President Jose Maldonado, Secretary Treasurer Sussie Lozada, and Former President Bill Granfield

Henry Tamarin died on August 26 after a long fight against cancer. He was 77.

Henry was a Union organizer, negotiator, strategist, teacher and officer for HERE and UNITE HERE since 1970, when he started as a volunteer in New Haven. He first joined the Union staff there in 1973. Henry lived in New York City and worked with Local 100 from 1992 through 2001. It is hard to describe all that Henry accomplished during those 10 years with Local 100, but here are some examples. On arriving, he succeeded Vincent Sirabella as Trustee of the Local, and first concentrated on negotiating dozens of expired contracts, rebuilding the shop steward structure and developing a full time staff.

In 1993 Henry turned his attention to the health insurance plan and was able to add dependent coverage, speed up payment of claims, increase the number of doctors and hospitals in the network, improve the benefits and help build the New York Fund office staff to assist members. These changes required much higher health insurance contributions from the companies, and Henry built working relationships with numerous employers that put the Fund on a solid foundation. But some strikes were required, and Henry didn’t hesitate to lead members to the street and to fight long and hard to protect and improve their Union contracts. His toughest strike was at the Box Tree, which lasted 4 years, one month and 17 days before resulting in a good Union contract with family medical coverage in January 1998.

In 1994 Henry worked with the Federal monitor and the International Union’s Public Review Board to guide Local 100 out of Trusteeship and through an election of officers, where he was voted President. He then focused on long term projects such as improving the Pension plan, negotiating a Restaurant Council agreement, preparing to organize new members and starting to engage the Local in political action. But his priority always was building the Union staff for the future. He was a trainer, a driver, a mentor, a good friend, a severe critic, a comic and a person who bought a round for the team after a solid week of work.

As the staff team came together, the Local stabilized and began to organize new members and grow, and Henry was asked to serve as Trustee in Local 69, representing members in the Meadowlands and North Jersey hotels, who eventually voted to merge with Local 100. After being re-elected President in 1997 and 2000, Henry transitioned to Local 1 in Chicago, and moved there full time in 2002.
He continued to support the members of Local 100 as a Trustee in both the Health and Pension Funds until his retirement, when he moved back to New York. The last few years he has been a volunteer again, serving as counselor to the new generation of leaders in Local 100, as well as an activist, joining on bus trips to rallies and being arrested in civil disobedience actions at JFK Terminal 8 in November 2019 and February 2020.

Local 100 members who worked with Henry remember his fighting spirit, his personal warmth and his humor. Members who didn’t meet him should know Henry Tamarin built the foundation and trained the staff of the Union you belong to today.